Combined battery and cover retaining means for electric hand lanterns



w. M. MQXLEY COMBINED BATTERY AND $OVER RETAINITIG MEANS ELECTRIC HAND LANTERNS Filed Feb. 23, 1942 ZOZZZia'm MoxZe y Patented Apr. 6, 1943 IN G MEANS TERNS FOR ELECTRIC HAND LAN- William M. Moxley, Kansas City, Mo. Application February 23, 1942, Serial No. 432,086 3 Claims. (c1. 240 10.o3

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 397,- 480, now patent No. 2,286,685, granted June 16. 1942, there is illustrated a battery retaining means for electric hand lanterns of a nature to exert a pressure upon the battery to hold it in firm contact with the lantern bulbs, even though the lantern be swung to the horizontal, or even completely inverted.

Lanterns of this type have found wide favor with railroad men and have largely supplanted be provided for holding the battery against movement away from the lantern bulbs, so that firm contact of the battery with the bulb contacts may be had at all times.

In the application aforesaid, this pressure upon the battery was achieved by the provision of a plate adapted to rest exert a thrust against pins or equivalent elements carried by the battery side wall. It is a primary object of the present invention to utilize the battery retaining plate as a means to which the lantern cover may be anchored, so that said cover may be held in place without the provision of threads or cams between the cover and the lan tern body.

This is of importance, because it has been found that since the lantern bodies and their covers are usually formed of relatively thin sheet metal, even a light blow bends the metal enough to interfere with the proper operation of threaded parts, light cams, or the like. Further, since these lanterns are frequently subjected to dampness, any rusting of the cover or lantern body interferes with the operation of threaded connections.

By virtue of the structure hereinafter described, the battery retaining plate is not only caused to serve the function of an anchor for the cover, but the nature of the connections is such that it is not necessary to have an exceedingly tight fitting cover. The result is that a cover that is very easily applied or removed is provided. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in section of an electric hand lantern having the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view upon line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an underside ing plate, and

View of the cover retainupon the battery and to Fig. 4 is a plan view of a battery retaining plate.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

The lantern of the present invention comprises a sheet metal body 5 adapted to rest upon a skeleton base 6 and having the usual light bulbs l, battery 8 and pivoted ball 9. These parts are of the usual and well known construction found in many electric hand lanterns and need no further description.

As in my previous application, above identified, the present structure includes a battery retaining plate Hi. This plate overlies the battery and exerts pressure thereagainst through the medium of its upturned ends H, which act against inturned pins or studs 12 that are carried by the sides of the body 5. These upturned ends I l are oppositely inclined and are notched as indicated at IS, with the result that when a turning movement is imparted to the plate through the medium of thumb and finger grasps I4, the inclined, notched upper faces act to thrust the plate l0 forcibly toward the battery 8.

An upstanding web 15 is provided with a base 46 that is riveted at IT to plate I0, and this web is provided with a pair of opening l8, located upon opposite sides of its center, which openings are adapted to receive arcuate spring tongues l 9. These tongues are struck from a cover retaining plate 20 that is riveted at 2| to the cover 22. The cover 22 is of inverted cup. form and is adapted to fit down over the body 5.

In assembling the lantern, the battery is first dropped into place, then plate I0 is placed upon the top of the battery and given a partial turn. This forces the plate toward the battery, as described. Then the cover '22 is placed on the top of the lantern body and is given a partial turn to cause the ends of the tongues I 9 to enter and ride through the openings l8, drawing the cover firmly down upon the body with a cam action.

It will be seen that the structure described is a very simple and inexpensive one and that substantially all of the parts may be made from metal stampings. Further, it will be seen that while the nature of the assembly is such as not to require accurate initial fit of the parts, the final result is to force plate I 0 to a firm seating upon the battery and then to utilize this firmly seated plate as an anchor to draw the cover to an equally firm seating upon the lantern body.

While the elements shown and described are well adapted to serve the purpose for which they are intended, it is to be understood that the invention includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come within either the term or the spirit of the appended claims.

As far as I am aware, I am the first to first lock a battery retaining plate in place by an engagement of said plate with the lantern body instead of with the lantern cover, and to then utilize said locked plate as the anchoring means for the cover proper.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1. The combination with an electric lantern of the type comprising a hollow body, a battery therein and a cover fitted upon the end of the body for turning movement about the axis of said body, of a battery retaining plate dimensioned to rest upon the battery between the battery and cover, inter-engaging means between the battery retaining plate and the side wall of the body shaped to exert a thrust between the body and the battery upon turning movement of said plate, an anchor carried by th battery retaining plate and projecting toward the cover, and members carried by the cover and engaging said anchor to lock the cover upon the body upon turning movement of the cover about the axis of the body.

2. The combination with an electric lantern of the type comprising a hollow body, a battery therein and a cover fitted upon the body, of a battery retaining plate dimensioned to rest upon the battery between the battery and cover, interengaging means between the battery retaining plate and the side wall of the body shaped to exert a thrust between the body and the battery upon turning movement of said plate, an anchor carried by the battery retaining plate and projecting toward the cover, and means carried by the cover for engaging said anchor to lock the cover upon the body, said means comprising a pair of arcuate spring tongues, projecting in opposite directions, and said anchor comprising a member provided with openings for the reception of said tongues, turning movement of the cover about the axis of the body causing said tongues to ride through said openings and exert a drawing action upon the cover toward the body.

3. In an electric lantern of the type comprising a body and a contained battery, a battery retaining plate shaped to fit upon the battery and to thrust it toward an end of the body, upstanding ends upon said plate, the upper faces of which are inclined in opposite directions, studs carried by the body beneath which said inclined faces of the upturned ends ride upon turning movement of said plate to thereby thrust the plate toward the battery, an upstanding web carried by the plate, a cover adapted to fit upon the top of the body, a cover retaining plate secured to the underside of the cover, a pair of spring tongues struck from said plate, and elements carried by said web adapted to be engaged by said tongues and beneath which said tongues ride in turning movement of the cover upon the body to draw the cover toward said body.

WILLIAM M. MOXLEY. 

